[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322F482CA-425":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},425,77,"Chapter 77: My Hand Had Other Plans","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before she could even cry out, a pair of long, slender hands gripped her waist, swiftly reeling her back into his chest.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna Stone blinked, struggling to process the scene. She was sitting on Maxwell King’s lap. Her own hands, acting on pure instinct, were still wrapped around his neck. And, to make matters significantly worse, her other hand was planted firmly—and quite inconveniently—right over his abs.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her previous \"bold declaration\" was still echoing in her mind.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna felt like dying. The humiliation hit harder and faster than she could have prepared for. Would he think she was doing this on purpose? Trying to get a feel? She braced herself for his mockery, ready to just roll over and accept her fate.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But Maxwell didn’t laugh.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His grip on her waist tightened, his expression shifting into visible tension. \"Are you alright? Are you hurt?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before she could answer, he leaned down, gripping her ankles to inspect them. \"Did you twist your foot?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No,\" Arianna stammered, stunned.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell held her wrists, gently shifting her further onto the sofa. \"I’m going to press here. Tell me if it hurts.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Does it hurt here?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna felt as if her brain had short-circuited. She responded mechanically, \"No pain.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"How about here?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"...No pain.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After a full examination, Maxwell finally let out a breath of relief. His warm palm lingered against her ankle as he gave it a gentle rotation. \"And this? Any pain?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Where his skin pressed against hers, it was searing hot, leaving a trail of warmth that made Arianna’s heart race. She managed to steady her frantic pulse and pulled her feet back, rotating her ankles to prove a point. \"See? I’m fine. Totally fine. Stop worrying.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell let out a soft sound of acknowledgment. His brows smoothed out, and his demeanor relaxed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">An awkward, charged silence hung in the air. Because of the little mishap, Arianna was still perched on Maxwell’s lap, her toes curled against the fabric of the sofa. Maxwell had one arm wrapped around her, his fingers resting lazily against her waist. His gaze was deep, drifting downward with a slow, languid intensity.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A meaningful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna followed his gaze.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her hand. It was still resting motionless on his abs. It hadn't moved an inch since the moment she sat down!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The sound of his voice, low and teasing, drifted into her ear. \"Arianna, it seems your hand... has a mind of its own.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna felt her scalp tingle. She tried to pull away, but he caught her hand, pressing it more firmly against his rigid abdomen. His voice went a little raspy, laced with infinite indulgence and affection. \"It's fine. If you want to touch, just touch.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I don't mind.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The owner of said abs had just issued an incredibly warm and friendly invitation. Arianna sat there like a statue, unable to form a coherent sentence. She could only manage a dry, awkward chuckle.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Beneath her palm, the sensation was impossible to ignore. The firm, knit-like texture of his muscles was digging into her skin. Every time he breathed or spoke, his abs would flex, vibrating against her palm with an intensity that sent a jolt of electricity straight through her. It was overwhelming.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A soft, amused voice dropped from above her head. \"Do you like it?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna froze. \"Like... what?\" She had a sinking suspicion of what he was asking, and she was doing her absolute best to dodge it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell, however, wasn't letting her off the hook. His gaze lingered on her, his lips curled in a relaxed, lazy smirk. \"What do you think?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He didn't wait for her answer. He simply kept his hand over hers, holding her against his muscle with a very clear implication. \"My abs. Do you like them?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna gave a stiff, tiny nod. \"...I do.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Do you like this kind of build,\" Maxwell pondered, looking at her with genuine, focused curiosity, \"or do you prefer something bigger?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Something... bigger?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Like those gym-rat trainers, for instance.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna was completely lost. She knew nothing about bodybuilding. Was Maxwell asking the wrong person?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell arched a brow, his expression entirely at ease. \"If you like more muscle, I’ll just hit the gym harder and turn into the look you want. If you like the way I am now, then I’ll just maintain this.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She could have racked her brain for a thousand years and never expected this conversation. She sat there, jaw slightly agape, speechless.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His hand on her waist gave a gentle squeeze. \"Well? Which one does Mrs. King prefer?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna’s eyelashes fluttered. Every coherent thought she had was being derailed by that single, intimate movement. She blinked slowly. \"This... this lean-cut physique. It’s perfect.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Lean-cut?\" Maxwell repeated, puzzled.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna felt a jolt of panic. The term \"lean-cut\" was something she’d picked up from a video Gemma Bennett had shared with her. In the video, a man had started out wearing a boring, plain T-shirt, but then the scene cut—the shirt was gone, and he was doing push-ups in just a pair of gray joggers. The muscle definition, the visible veins in his arms, the sheer, raw intensity—it was overwhelming.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Gemma had sent her a dozen of them. Arianna hadn't dared to watch the rest.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She had messaged Gemma, face flaming: [Where do you even find these...]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And Gemma had replied, clearly excited: [There's this video app, just search for 'lean-cut' and you'll find some serious treasures!!]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna hadn't searched, but the term had stuck in her brain. When she’d seen Maxwell’s own perfectly defined physique, the words had simply slipped out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell looked genuinely confused. \"What is... a 'lean-cut'?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna played it cool. \"It's just... the way your muscles look right now.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is that so?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yeah.\" Her voice was barely a whisper.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell watched her ears flush a deep, vibrant red and let out a soft laugh. \"I see. I’ll keep that in mind.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her heart skipped a beat. Keep what in mind? She didn't dare ask.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’ll be sure to work out hard to keep this physique,\" Maxwell said, his gaze dropping suggestively to her hand, a wicked glint in his eyes. \"Just to make sure I’m satisfying Mrs. King's... visual cravings.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He paused, his smile widening. \"And tactile ones, too.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272908657]